Aks S E, Erickson T, Branches F J, Naleway C, Chou H N, Levy P, Hryhorczuk D
Cook County Hospital, University of Illinois Hospital, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago.
J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1995;33(1):1-10. doi: 10.3109/15563659509020208.
A field study survey of individuals residing in the region of Para, Brazil, was conducted to determine fractional mercury levels in individuals at risk for exposure in the Brazilian Amazon region. Subjects with a history of exposure to mercury either in the gold mining or refining industry, or exposure to these processes through proximity were included. Three groups were identified as either having recent (less than 2 d since last exposure), intermediate (less than 60 d), or remote (greater than 60 d) exposure to mercury vapors. Fractional blood and urinary mercury levels were assessed for these groups. Group I (recent) had the highest geometric mean blood 24.8 (SD 44.1, range 7.6-158.8) micrograms/L and urine 75.6 (SD 213.4, range 6.5-735.9) micrograms/g-cr (microgram mercury per gram of creatinine) mercury; intermediate (group II) geometric mean blood 7.6 (SD 5.5, range 2.2-19.4) micrograms/L and urine levels 23.8 (SD 84.0, range 7.8-297.0) micrograms/g-cr; the lowest levels in remote exposure (group III): geometric mean blood 5.6 (SD 3.3, range 3.1-14.3) micrograms/L and urine 7.0 (SD 9.8, range 3.1 to 32.9) micrograms/g-cr. The fraction of organic was lowest in group I (32.4%), higher in group II (65.7%), and highest in group III (72.2%). While the frequency of symptoms was comparable in the recent and intermediate groups (2.6 mean, SD 2.3, range 0-8, and 3.1 mean, SD 1.9, range 0-7, symptoms per patient), those with remote exposure demonstrated the highest rate of reporting (6.4 mean, SD 4.1, range 0-11, symptoms per patient). There is significant exposure to mercury for those working in or living near the mining and refining industry. Blood and urine levels are a better marker of recent than remote exposure. The fraction of organic mercury increases with time since exposure. Symptoms may be persistent and low levels of blood and urine mercury do not exclude remote or cumulative toxicity.
对居住在巴西帕拉地区的个人进行了一项现场研究调查，以确定巴西亚马逊地区有接触风险的个人体内汞的分级水平。纳入了有在金矿开采或提炼行业接触汞的历史，或因居住在这些行业附近而接触汞的人群。确定了三组人群，分别为近期（自上次接触以来不到2天）、中期（不到60天）或远期（超过60天）接触汞蒸气的人群。对这些组别的血液和尿液汞分级水平进行了评估。第一组（近期）的血液几何平均水平最高，为24.8（标准差44.1，范围7.6 - 158.8）微克/升，尿液为75.6（标准差213.4，范围6.5 - 735.9）微克/克肌酐（每克肌酐中汞的微克数）；中期（第二组）血液几何平均水平为7.6（标准差5.5，范围2.2 - 19.4）微克/升，尿液水平为23.8（标准差84.0，范围7.8 - 297.0）微克/克肌酐；远期接触组（第三组）水平最低：血液几何平均水平为5.6（标准差3.3，范围3.1 - 14.3）微克/升，尿液为7.0（标准差9.8，范围3.1至32.9）微克/克肌酐。有机汞的比例在第一组中最低（32.4%），在第二组中较高（65.7%），在第三组中最高（72.2%）。虽然近期组和中期组的症状发生频率相当（平均2.6，标准差2.3，范围0 - 8，以及平均3.1，标准差1.9，范围0 - 7，每名患者的症状数），但远期接触者报告的症状发生率最高（平均6.4，标准差4.1，范围0 - 11，每名患者的症状数）。在采矿和提炼行业工作或居住在其附近的人群存在显著的汞接触。血液和尿液水平是近期接触而非远期接触的更好指标。有机汞的比例随着接触后的时间增加而升高。症状可能持续存在，血液和尿液汞含量低并不排除远期或累积毒性。
